SONICAL.LY BLOG

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Marshall Xie

10.4.23

Alan Walker: A Resurgence of Nostalgia Through Timeless Beats

What makes Alan Walker's music so special is its ability to evoke a profound sense of nostalgia. His songs are often associated with the 2010s, a time when many people were just enjoying their youth..

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Zeina Ezzat

8.23.25

Gen Z Retro Revival: Cassettes Are Making a Comeback—All Thanks to Taylor Swift

The 1980s and 1990s analog music medium known as cassette cassettes is experiencing an unanticipated comeback, with Gen Z spearheading the trend. Taylor Swift, who included cassettes in the release...

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Zeina Ezzat

8.23.25

Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type” Serves Major '80s Pop Vibes—and Announces Tour Whereange Fans Worldwide

This week's most notable headline: Doja Cat's erotically charged, '80s-inspired music video, "Jealous Type," is dominating social media feeds and cultural discourse, marking her most daring...

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Zeina Ezzat

8.23.25

J‑hope & GloRilla’s “Killin’ It Girl” Wins Summer’s Best Collaboration – And It’s Pure Gen Z Energy

J-hope and GloRilla's "Killin' It Girl," a spectacular blend of K-pop flare and shameless hip-hop heat that has taken the world by storm, is this week's winner of the Best Collaboration of Summer...

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Ebrunida Karadag

8.23.25

Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Emotion’ Gets the 10th Anniversary Treatment It Deserves (6 New Reasons to Celebrate)..

Carly Rae Jepsen is giving fans the ultimate gift for the 10th anniversary of her critically adored album Emotion: a special edition featuring four never-before-heard tracks and two fresh remixes...

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Ebrunida Karadag

8.23.25

BTS' First Reunion Photos Hint at 2026 Comeback Magic: BTS Reunites for Beach Day and Studio Sessions After Military Service

The wait is over, ARMY! BTS is officially back together and balancing work and play in their first moments of reunion after completing mandatory military service. J-Hope sent fans into a frenzy...

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Lienor Katas

8.23.25

“Hard Fought Hallelujah”: Worship Breaks Through as a Cultural Movement

Christian music stepped outside of its quiet comfort zone in 2025. "Hard Fought Hallelujah," a worship song by Brandon Lake, went platinum, sold out festival stages, and exploded from churches to...

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Lienor Katas

8.23.25

Viral Songs from Hospital Bed: Forrest Frank’s Faithful Bounceback

In late July 2025, Christian artist Forrest Frank (of Surfaces, now a solo juggernaut in faith-pop) posted from a hospital bed: he’d fractured his L3 and L4 vertebrae in a skateboarding accident...

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Zeina Ezzat

8.21.25

Sleep Token’s “Even In Arcadia” Tour Poised to Redefine Metal Live Shows

On September 16, the masked metal phenomenon Sleep Token will embark on their 2025 "Even In Arcadia Tour" across North America. The 18-show tour, which includes a huge date at Brooklyn's Barclays...

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Zeina Ezzat

8.21.25

"Boots on the Ground" and the Soul Line Dance Movement — TikTok’s Viral Connection to Black Country Culture

Due to a line dance that went viral and won over fans' hearts both inside and outside of the United States, 22-year-old Tre Little's song "Boots on the Ground" has become a cultural sensation this...

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Zeina Ezzat

8.21.25

Taylor Swift Sparks Nostalgia Revival with Cassette Tape Releases

In addition to preparing for her next album, The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift is reviving the physical medium this week by putting her songs on cassette tapes. This sentimental action...

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Muhammad Siddqui

8.21.25

Cardi B Drops Jay-Z-Sampling Single ‘Imaginary Playerz'

Cardi B is officially back in album mode. On Friday, the rap superstar released her new single “Imaginary Playerz,” a bold track that samples Jay-Z’s classic “Imaginary Player.” The release comes...

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Ebrunida Karadag

8.21.25

Gary Oldman Reflects on David Bowie: “The World’s Gone to Shit” Since His Passing

Gary Oldman opened up about his decades-long friendship with the late David Bowie, calling the world a very different place since the music icon’s death in January 2016. In a heartfelt interview...

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Ebrunida Karadag

8.21.25

From Palio to Plushies: Madonna's 67th Birthday Blends Medieval Traditions with Modern Trends

The Queen of Pop just proved she's still the ultimate trendsetter even when it comes to birthday cakes. Madonna rang in her 67th birthday with a luxurious Italian getaway capped off by an enormous...

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Ebrunida Karadag

8.20.25

Jade Thirlwall Calls Out Matty Healy's Political Silence: "Your Privilege is Showing, Disappointing"

Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall isn't mincing words about artists who avoid political engagement, specifically calling out The 1975's Matty Healy for what she sees as a privileged stance. In...

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Nazia Rahman

8.20.25

PinkPantheress – Illegal: The Song That Feels Wrong but Sounds So Right

PinkPantheress has once again cracked the code of Gen Z’s collective brain chemistry with her track Illegal. It’s short, it’s addictive, and it’s the kind of song that makes you feel like you’re...

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Nazia Rahman

8.20.25

Conan Gray – Caramel: The Sweetest Breakup You’ll Ever Cry To

Conan Gray has never been shy about writing songs that feel like reading your high school diary at 2 a.m. with the lights off. But with Caramel, he’s gone full Willy Wonka heartbreak mode. It’s...

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Nazia Rahman

8.20.25

PinkPantheress – Romeo: A Love Song for the Chronically Online

PinkPantheress has always had a gift for making music that feels like it was recorded inside your daydreams, half diary entry, half late-night Tumblr scroll. With Romeo, she’s taken that talent and...

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Nazia Rahman

8.20.25

LISA – DREAM feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi: When Music Meets Cinema

Every so often, a song arrives that feels less like a single and more like a cinematic event. LISA’s latest release, DREAM featuring Japanese actor and heartthrob Kentaro Sakaguchi, is exactly that...

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Nazia Rahman

8.20.25

Cardi B’s “Imaginary Playerz”: The Anthem We Didn’t Know We Needed

If Cardi B has taught us anything, it’s that she doesn’t just rap, she throws down verbal haymakers wrapped in couture and glitter. Her new joint, “Imaginary Playerz,” is a full-on drag session for...

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Muhammad Siddiqui

8.20.25

Joyce Manor Returns After Three Years

Everyone’s favorite pop-punkers, Joyce Manor, are back with their first new song in three years. The surprise single, “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” is out now via Epitaph Records, blending...

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Lienor Katas

8.20.25

From Pews to Playlists: How Christian Pop Took Over the Hot 100

In 2025, Christian culture is prevalent, although it was previously on the outside of popular music. The Billboard Hot 100 is dominated by religious-themed songs like Benson Boone's...

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Lienor Katas

8.20.25

SENSITIVE CONTENT The Fall of a Gospel Titan: Michael Tait’s Reckoning

Michael Tait, a well-known Christian rock musician (DC Talk, Newsboys), has admitted to engaging in "unwanted sensual" behavior and substance misuse for decades. Multiple accusers allege abuse...

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Lienor Katas

8.20.25

When Priests Rock the Stage: How a Houston Concert Broke the Internet

Imagine six Catholic priests performing at a sold-out Houston show instead of a well-known pop star. Their band's performance combined messages of prayer, celibacy, and faith with elements of rock...

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Nazia Rahman

8.19.25

“Lovers” by Anna of the North: The Song That Defined a Generation’s Love Letters

When Anna of the North released “Lovers” in 2017, it was already a dreamy synth-pop gem, filled with wistful vocals and lush production that captured the ache of young romance. But it wasn’t until...